Small leak on older strut is OK for 2010 Avalon

Saturday

Jun 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Q: I have a 2010 Toyota Avalon with about 26,000 miles on it. Recently I had the oil changed and was told the right rear strut was leaking. The mechanic said he has seen this often in Toyotas and didn’t...

Q: I have a 2010 Toyota Avalon with about 26,000 miles on it. Recently I had the oil changed and was told the right rear strut was leaking. The mechanic said he has seen this often in Toyotas and didn’t know why a recall wasn’t issued. Have you heard about this from other Toyota owners or is this a common problem?

— D.C.

A: Generally struts or shocks will start to leak fluid as they age. This is usually due to internal seals failing, which can be a result of our less than perfect roads. The issue is how much of a leak is considered normal. Most vehicle manufacturers agree that slight oil collecting on the strut or shock absorber is considered normal and to be expected with age. More importantly is how the component performs and a simple “bounce” test is still a good indicator of wear. If the car still bounces after pushing down on the corner of the car a few times then the shocks or struts are in need of replacement.

2007 Camry uses oil

Q: I own a 2007 Toyota Camry and it is using one quart of oil every 1,000 miles. A friend of mine has a 2001 Camry and it uses no oil between oil changes. Did I get a lemon?

— Betty Lou

A: Some Toyota engines have had a problem with oil consumption. The repair is not simple since it requires replacing the pistons. The good news is that this repair may still be covered under the cars power-train warranty.

Recalibrate

Q: I have a Chevy Tahoe and after I replaced the battery the air conditioner doesn’t switch from the center of the dash vent to the defroster. Is it possible that changing the battery caused this problem? It seemed fine all winter.

— Dave

A: Changing the battery shouldn’t have had any effect on the air flow controls. That said, it is certainly worth trying to recalibrate the system first before replacing any parts. Try this: With key on and the engine off press the Auto button on climate control then shut off ignition immediately. Remove both battery cables and leave off for about 45 minutes, then replace the positive battery cable and then the negative cable. If that doesn’t fix the problem then it is most likely a faulty door actuator.

Polisher attachment

Q: I have a car with alloy wheels and they are dirty. I have cleaned them and they look okay but lack the new car sparkle they once had. Is there anything I can try to make them look better?

— C.F.

A: I recently tried a cone shaped buffer wheel that fits into a cordless drill. The design allows you to get into the nooks of the wheel. It is called the Buffer Bit (www.bufferbit.com ). It comes with three wool buffing pads and a handy storage tube. Judging from its design you can probably polish chrome motorcycle pipes, wire wheels or even shoes.

Reader comment:

Mark K writes concerning the subject:

“Oil filters should be hand tightened.”

For any compressible seal to function properly, the amount of compression on it is very important. This is even truer when it’s only partially captured: like an oil filter seal. Hand tightening is too variable to be reliable. Too loose and it can leak and “blow out” (happened to me one dark night on the highway heading south of Hartford), or, too tight and the seal can be damaged. Either way — not good and you can be shopping for a new engine! Here is what I do: Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the box, clean the mating surface on the engine. Put oil on the rubber seal and the mating surface. Spin the filter on until the rubber seal just touches the mating surface. Now, tighten it per the manufacturer’s directions — usually an additional 3/4 to 1 turn. This ensures the proper compression on the seal and gives a reliable seal every time. You can’t be right 100 percent of the time.”

Thanks Mark, you got me looking at my two family cars. According to the factory procedure on both cars, the oil filters are to be tightened between 10 and 19 foot pounds depending on the model (Chrysler and Hyundai).

John Paul is the AAA Car Doctor{+S}{+M}. He has over 30 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. He will answer car repair and maintenance questions of general interest from Cars readers every Saturday. Write to Car Doctor, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. Or you may send an e-mail to cars@providencejournal.com. Be sure to put “Car Doctor” in the message field. Answers of general interest will appear in a future Cars section. Saturday mornings at 9, tune into John Paul The Car Doctor online at